Chapter One
Dearly Departed
May 2, 1997
After the Battle of Hogwarts
"Harry!"
Harry Potter heard someone shout his name. He was standing in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. His best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were standing in a far corner. Although, they had finally realized they both wanted to be more than just 'best friends' during the Battle. It seemed as though Hermione was comforting Ron, soothingly murmuring. As Harry turned to see who addressed him, something - someone? - was running and hit him hard, with full force, it's head aflame. He realized that his old girlfriend Ginny Weasley had collided into him top speed, and the flames were her brilliant red hair matted with dirt. Hopefully, Harry thought she won't be my 'old' girlfriend for long. It's safe for us to be together now - she will never be Voldemort's target. With that in mind, he caught her in his arms and hugged her close, then he remembered the promise he had made Ron, what felt like a century ago. He looked over at his best mate, and Ron gave him the slightest nod of the head, entitling Harry to keep a strong hold of Ginny, stroking her hair.
"I-It's over n-now, right?" Ginny hiccoughed, her eyes filling with tears and slowly reddening.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Hermione leading Ron out of the grand office.
"Yeah, it's over." Harry said, and as he did, a great weight lifted off his shoulders - his words were so true, and so long overdue.
They stood a while locked in one another's embrace, silent. As the moments passed, Harry could feel tears seep steadily into his dirty, torn shirt. Ginny began to tremble, so Harry led her over to a love seat that was much to extravagant to have been Professor Snape's. It was hidden from the curious portraits of former Headmasters, including a very special portrait of an ancient man with glistening eyes obscured by semi-moon glasses. Harry sat Ginny down next to him on the bright seat, and she rested her head on his shoulders.
"A-Are you okay?"
Ginny's question took Harry by surprise.
"Well, I suppose... " he replied, though not certain of his answer's truth.
"Come off it. Here I am crying over Fred, and all the other's. You lost Fred, and Remus, and young Colin that absolutely adored you... You are not 'okay'." Ginny insisted, sounding a tad like her old self, yet Harry took notice how she fumbled over the names of those who died, and neglected to mention Tonks - Harry knew that she had grown quite close to her in their times at Grimauld Place, and all the times that Mrs Weasley had her come 'round the Burrow. She had become a sort of Role Model.
Harry stroked Ginny's hair as he answered. "Yes. Alright, I am not 'okay.' But I have to be."
"You are allowed to be sad, to grieve, you don't need to be the hero anymore."
"I need to be here for you ... and your family."
"You can do so and be sad!"
"I can't be sad with you." Harry felt quite proud of his quick tact.
"Well, you know what to say, don't you?" Ginny's voice diminished with every word she spoke. She laughed a feeble laugh.
"Er-yeah"
"C'mon, let's go find the o-others. I-I need to see Mum" Ginny sniffled, after a moment of silence.
"Okay.." Harry took Ginny's hand as they stood up, supporting her because she felt so unstable. They crossed the vast office together, to the door. Once they reached the swirling staircase, Harry wrapped his arm around her delicate waist.
"I can walk on my own, you know" Ginny snapped, not with the expected joking tone. No, it was as if the strength of her usual sarcasm seemed to have dried of her system. Harry thought best not to argue, and as he pulled his arm away quickly, she added-
"Not that I didn't mind the effort." And they both sort-of smiled.
They walked along the hallway until they had to step over the humongous piles of stone and debris - a whole wall had been knocked down in the craze of the battle. They were now outside, the clouds that had formed earlier had cleared, the sun's rays dancing a victory dance in celebration.
As they crossed the grounds, they saw varying professors standing among the rubble that was strewn about. Professor McGonagall was using Aguamenti to distinguish the minuscule fires that burned scattered around. Professors Slughorn and Flitwick were combining Reparo spells to create a powerful charm that were sending pieces of stone back to their rightful places in the castle's structure.
Over in one of the many courtyards of the school, Harry spied Luna and Neville sitting together on a bench, staring at a bush... He didn't even bother to ask himself what they were talking about. Wait - are they holding hands? Harry wondered.